the snow is here...and Christmas will be soon too!

Well, the procrastination that Christmas is coming is officially over. We got our tree (a blue spruce which discourages both small children and small dogs from messing with it) and a week after putting it up, actually got decorations on it. A few days later I got the decorations up and that has helping get us all in the spirit of the season. I think the lack of sleep has kept either Chuck or myself from having enough energy to really get going this year!

Chuck also got most of the outside lights up (enough to appease the neighbors & Christmas-light committee!) and Colton is once again transformed into a Christmas light/decoration mecca complete with color coded streets, Candy Cane Lane, a lighted nativity in the park, and a few other lighted scenes around town (okay the 12 streets that make up our little farming town).

I also managed to get Christmas cards in the mail and presents hidden away for the big day, so for me the big deadlines have been met!

Grace has been getting very excited for Santa's visit this year...she REALLY gets it! She even got to write a letter to Santa at daycare and was VERY thorough! She told Santa what she wanted and then explained to him how to find our house:

"...there is a Huge Gray pickup out front and we have a new deck in the back. My little dog Apollo might be out barking, but don't be afraid. He won't bite, just lick."

Kellan is still too little, but does love looking at the lights on the Christmas tree.

I have started my new job within the CVM and it is definitely keeping me on my toes with so much new stuff to learn, but is rewarding everytime the students stop by since I work directly with them now (no more travel!). Chuck is plugging away at the furniture store - they have been getting ready for Christmas sales and snow-clearing.

Speaking of which...last night we got about 5-6 inches, so yes, winter is here on the Palouse! And since Liz & Dustin are visiting, they are getting to see what they were both missing and moving back to! :-)

Here's a couple pictures, more to come soon!